Israel’s deadly strike on Rafah doesn’t appear to cross Biden administration’s ‘red line’

“Israelis have said this was a tragic mistake,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House.

Earlier Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said a secondary explosion likely sparked a fire that set the tents nearby ablaze, not the initial strike. Approximately 45 Palestinians died in the fire, which tore through a temporary refugee camp near the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday.

Israel was targeting two Hamas militants in Sunday’s operation, both of whom were killed, according to a military spokesperson from the Mideast nation. The attack took place in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where thousands of Palestinians were sheltering. More than half of those killed were women, children, and elderly people, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry.

Kirby said the administration mourned the loss of life but stopped short of condemning the Israeli government’s actions.

“This speaks very clearly to the challenge of military airstrikes in densely populated areas of Gaza, including Rafah because of the risk of civilian casualties,” Kirby said, adding that Israel’s investigation would be important in preventing “future such mishaps.” 

The incident marked one of the deadliest in the nearly eight-months since the Israel-Hamas war began. 

While the U.S. is not conducting its own investigation, Kirby stressed that the Israeli government has conducted such inquiries in the past and communicated their findings – and even held people accountable for such deadly mistakes.

“Let’s see what the investigation comes up with,” he said. “If we had done this, I think we would want the benefit of having the opportunity to investigate it and to figure out what happened.”

The strike over the weekend also did not appear to cross a “red line” that would prevent the Biden administration from aiding Israel. President Joe Biden has previously indicated that he would withhold additional U.S. military aid if the Middle Eastern country conducted a major ground invasion into Rafah.  

Kirby emphasized that so far Israel has not launched an all-ground incursion into Rafah and instead has sought to neutralize Hamas leaders through targeted strikes.

“It’s different,” Kirby said on Tuesday. “The Israelis have said they used 37-pound bombs, precision-guided munitions.”

Israeli military airstrike in Rafah kills 45, injures dozens

An Israeli military airstrike in a targeted area of Rafah killed 45 Palestinians, with dozens injured and many displaced.

He added: “If it is in fact what they used, it is certainly indicative of an effort to be discreet and targeted and precise. Now, obviously, this had tragic results, and obviously, that needs to be investigated.”

The administration has paused shipments of some bombs for Israel over concerns they could be used in Rafah.

Israel’s strike comes despite a ruling on Friday by the top U.N. court ordering it to immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah. Israel argued that the court ruling granted it some room for military action.  

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard and John Bacon, USA TODAY; Reuters